Shoe-form.



'Patented May 8, I900. J. THURELL.

SHOE FORM.

(Application filed Dec. 16, 1899.)

(No Model.)

ms u'onms mms c0. mowoumn. WASHINGTON. mV 0 Uwrrnn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN TIIUREIJIJ, OF NORTH ADAMS, MASSACHUSETTS.

SHOE-FORM.

' SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 649,373, dated May 8, 1900.

Application filed December 16, 1899. Serial No. 740,594. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that 1, JOHN THURELL, a citi zen of the United States, residing at North Adams, in the county of Berkshire and State of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in Shoe-Forms, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improved shoeform.

It is an object of the invention to provide a shoe-form of improved construction which may be used to keep the upper or fore part of the shoe in shape while making the same or to preserve the shape of the shoe while displaying the same in a shoe-window or the like.

It is a further and specific object of the invention to provide a shoe-form having a spring heel member to render the form selfadjusting and to combine therewith a plate for upsetting or clenching the nails driven into the heel.

WVith these objects in view the invention.

resides in the features of construction and the combination or arrangement of parts hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

I have illustrated my invention in the accompanying drawings, in which v Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved device, showing one form of heelspring applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a perspective View of a modified form of spring. Fig. 3 is a similar view of another :form of heel spring with a plate combined therewith, and Fig. et is a like view of these parts detached.

The numeral 1 indicates the form or follower proper, which is of the general shape or configuration and size of the class of shoes to which it is designed to be applied and which is made of any suitable material, such as stiffened leather, cardboard, thin sheet metal, or the like. Whatever the material used, it must be of a somewhat-springy nature to permit the form to readily adjust itself to variations in the width of the shoes to which it would ordinarily be applied.

The numerals 2 2 indicate the two side members of the form, which projectback a greater or less distance toward the heel portion of the shoe, which latter is usually stiff enough to maintain its shape without the use of a form. In order to provide for the automatic adj ustment of these side members, I employ a length of spring-wire bent or curved upon itself, as indicated at 3, to form two diverging springarms at 4, which in the form shown in Fig. 1 are curved upward upon themselves, as indicated at 5 5, and then outward at right angles to form two pivot-points (5 6, which are inserted from the inside through the rear ends of the side members 2 2 near the tops thereof. The spring-arms 4t 4 serve to press the members 2 2 apart, so that when the form is inserted in the shoe they will yield and conform to the shape of the shoe and by the spring-pressure serve to maintain such shape. The curved portions 5 5 operate to press the bottom parts of the side members 2 2 outward against the sides of the shoe.

In Fig. 2 the ends of the wire are shown to be coiled, as indicated at 7 7, so as to give a more extended spring bearing-surface at this point.

In Figs. 3 and l the heel-spring is made, as before,of a single length of spring-wire curved to conform to the shape of the heel and provided on opposite sides with two spring-arms at, having pivot-points 6, and with two inwardly-extending prongs 8 S and at the rear with an upright spring member 9. The prongs 8 8 are designed to engage in recesses 10 10, located, respectively, on opposite sides of a metal plate 11, of the general shape and size of the heel. With this construction of the heel-spring when the form has been in sorted in the shoe said heel-spring is turned downward on its pivots G 6 and the plate 11' brought to bear upon the bottom of the shoe at the heel, the upright spring member 9 engaging the back of the shoe and holding the parts firmly in position. Nails driven into the heel will be upset or clenched by this' for the purpose of giving shape to the shoe merely.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new is- 1. A shoe-form having integral projecting side members, in combination with a heelspring comprising a single length of springwire curved to afford spring-arms, said arms having their ends pivotally and detachably secured in the ends of said side members, substantially as described.

2. A shoe-form having integral projecting side members, in combination with a heelspring comprising a single length of spring- Wire curved to afford spring-arms, said arms having their ends pivotally secured in the ends of said side members, and being bent downwardly from the point of such pivotal connection, substantially as described.

3. A shoe-form having integral projecting side members, in combination with a heelspring comprising a single length of spring- Wire curved to afford spring-arms, said arms being provided with inwardly extending prongs and having their outer ends pivotally mounted in the said projecting side members, and a heel-plate provided on opposite sides With recesses for receiving said prongs,whereby the plate may be carried by said heelspring, substantially as described.

4:. A shoe-form having integral projecting side members, in combination with a heelspring comprising a single length of springwire bent at right angles to afford an integral upright spring member at the rear of the heelspring, and curved to afford spring-arms, said arms being provided with inwardly-extending prongs and having their outer ends pivotally secured in said projecting side members, and a heel-plate provided on opposite sides with recesses to receive said prongs, whereby the plate may be removably carried by said heel-spring, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN TIIURELL. \Vitnesses:

ELI JARVIs, I JosnPH CARPENTER, Jr. 

